Month: August 2015

This week the financial markets around the world have taken a real beating. For many years, countries around the world have looked to Asia for growth. The latest economic and market news out of China has not been calming to investors. China’s economy has grown so large that it’s no longer a trivial matter to rack up 7% annual GDP gains. In fact, those days could be long gone, which is the fact that is perplexing people around the world. With Europe, North America, and now the so-called “BRIC” nations showing slow growth, what will become of investments? Most investors are now waiting for clear confirmation about the direction of interest rates in the U.S.

Christian Broda since 2009 has been going against the grain of many of his fellow economists. A majority of them have been expecting a continuing slide for a weak dollar. Many of his peers argued that the days of the petrodollar were over. They predicted the dollar would be replaced as the reserve global currency. People who listened to Broda early this year have seen the dollar increase by 8%. Dollar strength is always a controversial subject in economist’s circles. A strong dollar can hurt exports and even cause lower spending at home. Still, the prestige that comes with being the world’s reserve currency has its advantages. From a strict viewpoint of price appreciation, Broda’s calls early this year have been proven dead on.

Economists are now scrambling to come up with an economic view of the next three months for nervous clients. They’re all waiting to see if the Fed raised interest rates and to see if the dollar continues to strengthen. They also have to factor in the cost of raw goods, the employment numbers, and housing starts. All of this economic data not only has to be sifted through, but sense must be made of it. With potentially billions of dollars on the line, investment funds and major institutions can barely afford to be wrong. If they are, their new investment dollars will dry up and existing clients may head for the exits. For the funds that are right, the opposite will happen. They’ll be the recipients of a massive influx of new clients and funds. These people will be impressed about current returns during a rough period of volatility. Economists earn their incomes every day be helping investors deal with the constant tumult in the markets. It’s not like it’s every going away. The fallout from China is long from over. The situation with the dollar is not settled at all. These are the types of times when big money will be spent or lost. So far Broda has been on point about his dollar views.

Will the U.S. dollar remain the essential world money of decision, as University of Chicago scholastic and speculative stock investments administrator Christian Broda accepts? On the other hand is the U.S. dollar in peril of losing its status as the world store money of economic ruling to another form of the “almighty dollar” and with it the world’s monetary pioneer could say adios to “exaggerated” fiscal benefits to pile on notable high government unpaid liability levels and take part in at no other time seen quantitative facilitating experimentation?

Remaining to be decided of this verbal confrontation is the financial eventual fate of a country at a juncture. While numerous business onlookers note with anxiety the Fed’s loosening up of quantitative facilitating, Christian Broda said he supposes financial specialists ought to stay in dollar exploded ventures.

It appears to be shrewd to keep your interest in the US, and mull over after the tried and true way of thinking that developing markets is the spot to put your cash. Broda is likewise strong of the Bank of Japan (BoJ). In 2004, in the midst of the critical notices of Japan’s financial breakdown, Christian Broda, alongside Columbia University’s David Weinstein, offered a significantly more confident examination of Japan’s future than was customary at the time.

That was considering essentials that were not most likely knew at the time, and a couple issues with differentiation’s in the way Japan speaks to its commitments in appreciation to general practices. “In any case, following 10 years, with a ton more commitment, it is harder to make the same figures we did in those days,” Christian Broda said. Broda feels that we are in unexplored domain now. In different regards, it is difficult to say that we are at levels where the security business part should not consider the current financial issues. Yet, given the size and legitimacy of the BoJ’s devotion it is hard for anyone to be on the inverse side of the BoJ’s quantitative easing. The certifiable test will be if honest to goodness rates can stay in negative locale if and when swelling settles at more raised sums for a drawn out stretch of time. We don’t yet know whether that will happen. We should keep a close-by eye on Japan, in light of the fact that essentially like in their leading part with QE in the 90s, they will be incredibly illuminating of the method talks about in the west in 10 years.

There is an ongoing debate over US leadership about fiscal policies. One side wishes to rein in spending while the other prefers to spend more. The U.S debts are growing year after year. Over the last five decades, there had been only six years when the United States had a balanced budget. As we speak, the U.S has an $80 trillion debt of unfunded liabilities and over $15 more of other liabilities. It is feared that in the next fifteen years the unfunded liabilities may double up. Right now, the U.S debt is greater than any other country’s. Surprisingly, even when the bonds of European Union are combined the US debt will still be enormous. If the rate of deficits continues to increase with the current rate, there are many reasons why the US economyshould collapse in the next ten years.

World’s Reserve Currency

The U.S manages to get away with huge debts because it is the world’s reserve currency. Holding such a status gives the U.S certain privileges. Frist, the worldwide economic markets price their goods in U.S. Dollar. This means that all countries selling and buying currency must trade in the U.S currency. Consequently,the demand and value of the US dollar increases tremendously.However, The U.S should be cautious about the high business class of their currency. According to economic experts, the U.S. is facing more and larger challenges, the gravest challenge being from China. China is working hard to ensure they replace the US dollar with their own. This problem threatened more after China established more than 30 currency swap deals using their money rather than the US dollar.

The US Fed has suggested a clear green signal on the economy of the US. The US dollar has hardened as a reflection of better economic performance. The Fed did not change their interest rates, which are still held at zero. Despite that, it has shown readiness to implement exit policy that will cut excess liquidity pumped into the US economy; hence turning inflammatory. The possibility of an exit system has boosted the sentiments towards the US dollar, and many investors have started to show interest again. According to the Fed, the US labor market is headed for greater performance. US Fed notes that, raising the conditions of employment will significantly improve the economy of the US since it is a consumer-driven economy.

Understanding Christian Broda

Christian Broda graduated from the University of San Andrea with a degree in economics. From there, he pursued his masters and PhD in the same field. Currently, Broda plies trade with Capital Management Company and is actively involved in numerous hedge funds. He is widely known for his informative articles published through Quarterly Journal and American Economic Review.

Brazil has a huge consumer market. When a new product takes off in Brazil, everybody that lives anywhere in the country (except maybe for the Amazon region) has to own it. Getting the word out in such a large country isn’t easy, but Claudio Loureiro, the co-founder of Heads Propaganda, knows how to do it, and he does it successfully. Loureiro’s company is the fourth largest advertising agency in Brazil. Heads Propaganda has been in the advertising business for 25 years and the company is still growing thanks to Loureiro and his staff.

The advertising game in Brazil started in the big cities and then it spread nationwide. Newspaper advertising was first, then magazine ads, TV and radio came next, and now the Internet has taken over. That is one of the reasons Claudio’s company is so successful. Heads Propaganda has followed the natural progression and has mastered the art of attracting consumers through different media platforms. Advertising and the media are interrelated and so are production and the business sector.

Wikipedia describes one of the challenges when it comes to advertising in Brazil is the regulations companies must follow. After all, Brazil has more than 800,000 attorneys and they are hungry for work, so companies that violate the rules will definitely need an attorney. Brazil has advertising laws that restrict political candidates from producing t-shirts, hats or anything that might be considered a gift. Alcohol can only be advertised at certain times, and cigarette ads can only appear at the selling point. São Paulo was the first city to exclude billboards and billboard advertisements from the streets. Medical ads cannot use the words “the best” or “guaranteed results,” and the medical association can’t support products related to health like soaps, vegetable creams and repellents.

It’s not easy to advertise in Brazil, but when companies use an advertising agency like Heads Propaganda selling products and services in Brazil gets a little easier.

Every now and then, we read about business people that seem to excel at everything they take on. These impressive individuals take on one challenging job after another until they find themselves at the top of the helm. Brian Bonar is one such individual. He’s had more jobs than most people have in a lifetime, and he is still up for the next challenge. With his background, education and motivation, it’s not surprising to learn that he is not only a CEO of a major company like Trucept, but he is also responsible for running Dalrada Financial Services. Discover just how Brian Bonar climbed the financial ladder to success.

Education

Brian owes much of his business success to laying the foundation with a good education. He attended James Watt Technical College from 1963 to 1969 where he completed his Technical Engineering degree. He followed that up with a Mechanical Engineering degree at Stafford University from 1973 to 1985.

Careers

It wasn’t long before Bonar started working for several types of companies that would provide him with experience and provide a solid foundation for future jobs. He started with IBM and took on the Procurement Manager position. Next, he would become the Director of Engineering for a company called QMS from 1985-1989. From QMS, he found himself working as the Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Rastek Corporation, where he worked for 4 years.

In September of 1993, he would work as a Sales Manager for a year at Adaptec. Ready for a change and new challenges, Brian Bonar would become the founder and CEO at his own company called Bezier Systems, where he would develop one of the very first SCSI based printers.

Over the next four years, he worked at Itec Imaging Technologies as the Vice President of Marketing and Sales. In the next two years, he would go on to work as the president for Allegiant Professional Business Services. Brian Bonar was written about by PRNewsWire.

By May of 2006, his ambition led him down a new road to become the founder of AMS Outsourcing, where he continued to work through January of 2013 in San Diego. Besides working at AMS, he also took on the role of chairman and CEO for Dalrada Financial Services in June of 1999, where he still works today.

Amazingly, he still found the time and energy to take on Trucept in June of 2011, where he continues work as the CEO and chairman of the board. Undoubtedly, Brian Bonar is a rare example of a dedicated financial enthusiast that just can’t get enough of success.

Throughout his careers, Brain has learned about business strategies, investing, business planning, entrepreneurship, venture capital, executive management and marketing strategies that have all served him well in his quest to reach the top.

One of the newest Austin Laundromats, Laundry Works, is Austin’s first and only “Green” Laundromat. The business is committed to being both ecologically friendly and responsible while maintaining the highest cleanliest standards for its customers’ laundry needs. This means that clothes washed at the Austin Laundromat are guaranteed to come out cleaner, smell fresher and look newer. This is just one of the many reasons for locals in Austin, Texas to come wash their clothes at Laundry Works.

Part of the Green initiative in Austin is the desire to lower one’s carbon footprint. Until now, this could not easily be achieved in the laundry business, without significantly compromising quality. The founders of Laundry Works decided it was essential to provide customers with solutions to doing their laundry and still be able to use less water, energy and detergent in order to make both the wash and dry cycles more efficient and eco-friendly.

Unique to the Austin are the top-of-the-line Electrolux commercial laundry equipment installed in the Laundromat. There are three different sizes of washing machines. The University of Texas at Austin location offers 18, 30 and 45 pound washer options. The washing machines are equipped with drum speeds capable of spinning at speeds that will actually remove stains, dirt and smells better than any other machine currently on the market in Austin, Texas. The machines are able to achieve all these amazing benefits for the customers while using less water and detergent than the machines customers have had to use in the past.

The dryers at the store are big and roomy and spin the clothes dry in both directions. This spin cycle is new technology, and again, is not offered at any other Laundromat in Austin. This helps to extract moisture quickly and ensures customers’ laundry does not come out wrinkled or warped. What is even more amazing is that, in most instances, the customers’ laundry is able to dry within 16 to 24 minutes in the dryer.

Washing at Laundry Works Austin’s state-of-the-art Laundromat will save you time, money, detergent and frustration!

The QI Group of Companies is a diversified multinational corporation that focuses on merging direct selling with e-commerce in various business operations such as education, hospitality, retail and financial services. Co-founded by its executive chairman Dr. Vijay Eswaran, QI has office locations in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines and it has a presence in thirty other countries. Dr. Eswaran was placed on the Forbes Asia Heroes of Philanthropy list in 2011 and the Malaysian Business Awards awarded him with the CEO of the year in 2013.

Philanthropy and corporate social responsibility is an important part of Dr. Eswaran’s business. He stresses environmental conservation by instituting a green company policy by putting into place practices such as going paperless, using solar energy on the buildings his business operates out of and recycling. Dr. Eswaran created two foundations, Vijayaratnam and Raise Yourself To Help Mankind (RHYTHM). The Vijayaratnam Foundation focuses on working with children and teenagers, especially girls, who come from underprivileged backgrounds. This foundation sponsors a school called Taarana which is a school for special needs children. The RHYTHM Foundation focuses on community development and wellbeing. It has formed partnerships with community outreach programs and schools such as the UN World Food Program, the Bangkok School for the Blind in Thailand and the School of the Deaf and Mute in Kazakhstan to name a few.

Ten years ago, Dr. Eswaran published a book titled The Sphere of Silence in which he discusses his experiences with Hindu and yoga concepts and how they relate to leadership, management and achievement. He feels that technological distractions are preventing people from reaching their full potential. In order to reach their full potential, people should practice silence and seek places where they will not be distracted because silence helps people to recognize who they are and the special skill sets they have. Silence helps people to recognize and achieve their goals, have better decision making skills and helps to provide them with an incentive to help others. Dr. Eswaran gives many training conferences for his company and is a frequent guest speaker for other groups and organizations where he regularly talks about the importance of seeking silence.

Art collecting is a hobby for some, and some take it to another extreme. In 1998, a young Adam Sender began buying and collecting contemporary art. Over the past couple of decades he had managed to amass a huge collection, sure the be the envy of any other art collector.

Adam has had an amazing eye for art, often choosing works from lesser known artists. The works are often by artists who are close to become much more prominent figures in the art world. Adam has had much success with his choice in contemporary art pieces.

Starting at such a young age, Sender had amassed a fortune within his art collection by his early 40’s. In 2014 when Sender was only 45 years old, his art collection was estimated to be worth over $70 Million. Most art collectors would only dream of such a collection over a lifetime, not in just a few decades.

In 1998 around the time Sender began buying his art collection, he also started a Hedge Firm called Exis. Sender started a small movement at the time, Hedge managers who were also art collectors. Many other Hedge managers were envious of the collection Sender amassed over a couple decades.

In 2014 Adam Sender did a certain “re-structuring” of his life. Major changes took place, he decided to put some of his art collection up for sale. Famed auction house Sotheby’s was charged with facilitating the sale, of a large portion of Mr. Sender’s collection. He also closed his Exis around this time. Check out Adam Sender’s FB profile.

Sender didn’t only sell paintings, he also arranged for the donation of many works. He donated these chosen works to various museums. This wasn’t the first time Mr. Sender has made the decision to part with some of his art pieces. In 2006 he sold around 40 pieces and netted a reported $20 Million for those pieces.

Never underestimate the drive of an intelligent businesswoman. In a world where a glass ceiling still exists, it is not always an easy journey to climb the ladder. There are woman are working to change the status quo, one step at a time. Whether by running an owning their own business or by working their way up to become a business executive, women are making many contributions to the world of business.

Susan McGalla is the epitome of a successful businesswoman that had to overcome numerous seemingly insurmountable obstacles to reach her status as a powerful business executive.
When the Joseph Horne Company first employed McGalla, she had to learn how to be versatile. Learning on her feet, she worked in a varied capacity over the course of her eight years with the company in both marketing and management positions.

Next, she embarked on a career at American Eagle Outfitters in 1994. At the time the brand was mostly considered a brand targeted towards a male demographic. She toiled away and soon her efforts were fruitful and eventually lead to her becoming to chief merchandising officer and president of the brand years later. At 41 she made for a quite a young president of such an expansive brand. From overseeing the marketing strategy to the extensive designs, McGalla helped shaped the brand to appeal to both a male and female demographic that offers denim and active wear to a primarily teens and twenty-somethings. The brand is quite popular; nearly every mall has one. The chain is practically synonymous for affordable denim that is durable and trendy. As president of the brand McGalla witnessed the unveiling of the chain’s aerie brand.

Not one to rest on the laurels of success, McGalla launched her own company P3 Executive Consulting. With her expansive knowledge of the world of business, she is well respected in the world of consulting. McGalla is currently the Pittsburgh Steeler’s Director of Strategic Planning and Growth.

The world of business needs to recognize the efforts of strong businesswomen. It is well known that in many sectors of business and industry, women are not paid as well as their male counterparts. This statistic holds true from the entertainment industry to the oil industry, and just about every kind of industry imaginable. America has made so many advances, but still struggles to give women equal footing with their male counterparts. A businesswoman that can jump through all the hoops and climb the career ladder is indeed a resilient and admirable individual. McGalla is an exemplary example of a smart businesswoman that brought exceptional ideas to the table. She has stated that she was raised to think of herself as a “person” not as a businesswoman. Perhaps that is the key, to an equal playing field. We should hold people accountable for their ideas and the level of creativity that they bring to the table. McGalla brought game changing ideas that transformed major brands and then set out to provide her own executive consulting services. Her journey illustrates that hard work and a strong vision can result in a vibrant career.

Business leaders rarely make plain the religious and faith based beliefs they have for fear of offending somebody within society. However, the QI Group co-founder Vijay Eswaran is open about the faith based life he lives and how the choices he makes each and everyday are affected by the spiritual side of his character. The popular business leader who has made a recent splash in the Indian economy with his multi level marketing company has gone as far as writing a self help book based on his own beliefs and faith to inspire others. By following the guidelines laid down within In The Sphere Of Silence Eswaran believes a higher level of success can be achieved by every businessperson looking for the best possible performance from themselves and their organization. Check out Vijay Eswaran on Facebook.

In The Sphere Of Silence acts as both a memoir and self help book designed to inspire the businesspeople of the world to accept the spiritual side of their personality and bring it more into play in their business lives. Eswaran has spent a large amount of his career seeking out the best opportunities for himself and his family by biding his time and waiting for the perfect opportunity to come along. Meditation, contemplation and yoga principles are all incorporated into the everyday life of Vijay Eswaran as he looks to focus solely on what he can do each day to help himself, his family and the world around him.

Vijay Eswaran believes almost everybody in the world is far too concerned about aspects of modern life that we cannot change in any way on a day to day basis. Meditation is used each day by Eswaran as he looks to embrace his spiritual side and bring focus to only those aspects of life he feels he can change himself. This could mean focusing on the business activities he is working on or looking at ways his company can make a positive change to the environment. Eswaran’s QI Group recently unveiled a solar array at a resort they operate that is designed to cut down the carbon footprint of the company, which is positioned alongside a paperless business practice that highlights the concern Eswaran and his partners have for the environment.